Sweet Words: Honey and Bone Health

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."

~ Proverbs 16:24 (KJV)

Have you ever wondered what honey has to do with bone health?

According to Food Matters' article, The Healing Power of Honey - from Burns to Weak Bones research has shown that a teaspoon of honey per day aids calcium utilisation and prevents osteoporosis. Of course this applies to raw honey.

Words to the wise

The book of Proverbs includes an interesting reference to honey and healthy bones. It says, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."

~ Proverbs 16:24 (KJV)

Consider also the words of another proverb of old: "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." ~ Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV) The New Living Translation puts it this way: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength." (NLT)

In the same way that raw honey helps with calcium utilisation, which in turn benefits the bones, there is a direct link between the words we speak and our physical and mental health. According to Proverbs 15:30 (NKJV), a good report makes the bones healthy!

Depression and bone health

People who have experienced severe depression sometimes say that it feels crippling. Major depression is associated with low bone mass and increased incidence of osteoporotic fractures. However, causality between depression and bone loss has not been established.

Imagine the feeling you get when someone speaks words of doom and gloom to you. Negative words have the power to depress the soul. Pleasant, encouraging words, however, are sweet medicine to the soul. They lift the spirit and can help ward off depression.

The Value of Words

In the twenty-fifth chapter of the book of Proverbs, we find the following advice fit for kings: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." ~ Proverbs 25:11 (KJV) So precious are the words we speak that they are compared with the valuable metals of silver and gold. "To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!" ~ Proverbs 15:23 (ESV)

Personal Application

Consider your speech. Are you known for your sweet words? Can you think of one person to whom you can speak sweet words of life today? Your words may help to lift someone out of the valley of despair.

Let's purpose in our hearts to do more to have a positive impact on the lives of others.

Source: https://www.foodmatters.com/article/the-healing-power-of-honey-from-burns-to-weak-bones-raw-honey-can-help